A friend of the teenager's entered the sea, held her above the surface and saved her life

Penlee lifeboat station have told how a teenager, who is a friend of the victim’s, entered the sea, held her above the surface and saved her life.

“Penlee Inshore Lifeboat ‘Mollie & Ivor Dent’ received a launch request from Falmouth Coastguard at 2.42pm today following reports that a teenager had fallen 20ft onto rocks in the sea near Penlee Point,” a spokesperson for the station wrote on Facebook.

“Penlee’s Inshore Lifeboat launched immediately and located the casualty near Bell Rock, the casualty was being was being held above the surface by a friend who very bravely alerted the emergency services and entered the sea to support his friend who suffered severe injuries. Penzance Cliff Rescue teams, Paramedics, Search and Rescue helicopterand the Air Ambulance were also tasked.“Two of the Penlee Lifeboat Crew entered the water, the casualty was very cold and in a lot of pain so they lifted the casualty and friend into the Lifeboat.“Two Paramedics who were also on scene were put on board from the old Lifeboat slip to help stabilise the casualty the Lifeboat then headed toNewlyn, once along side the casualty was taken by Ambulance to the Air Ambulance that landed on Newlyn Green and flown to Derriford Hospital. “This was a tremendous effort by all the emergency services involved, the brave teenage friend who kept her above the surface until the Lifeboat possibly saved her life. Well done all!”

17:17Charlotte Becquart

Penlee lifeboat also attended the incident

17:12Charlotte Becquart

Police believe it was an accident

“It does look like an accident,” the member of the force said. “It doesn’t look like there was a third party involved.”

17:09Charlotte Becquart

The teenager was found on a beach with serious injuries

The spokesman for the force added: “She was recovered with serious injuries from the beach and then conveyed by lifeboat to Newlyn.”He said that she was flown to hospital by Cornwall Air Ambulance.

17:07Charlotte Becquart

The massive operation was to save a "young female", police have revealed

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said that they were called to Mousehole at 2.30pm following reports of a young woman fallen off a cliff. He confirmed that the casualty was a teenager.

17:02Charlotte Becquart

The police and an ambulance arriving at the scene earlier

The police and an ambulance arriving at the scene earlier (Image: Samantha Ann Wilson-Hadden)